MOUNT VERNON — City Council held a public hearing Monday night to hear comments about a proposed change to the city code regarding real estate signs.
Current code states signs can be erected only on the property for sale. Kim Rose, Critchfield, Critchfield and Johnston, speaking on behalf of the Knox County Board of Realtors, said this makes it difficult to market a property that is located off of a main thoroughfare.
“You could have a sign on your property, but for people living on a cul-de-sac, you would never know the house was for sale,” he said.
Rose said a change allowing one off-site sign at a main thoroughfare would let prospective buyers know a house is available on a side street. Signs are limited to one per realty company, limited to 12-by-18-inches and must be professionally printed; no handwritten signs will be allowed. The signs will carry the logo of the realty company and a directional arrow; no Realtor’s name or price will be listed. Signs must be placed in the public right of way, not on a homeowner’s property, unless permission is obtained.
No one spoke in opposition to the proposed change, but the question was raised as to how it would affect homeowners who sell their own home rather than going through a realty company. It was agreed any sign erected by a homeowner would have to be professionally printed and conform to the same size.